Vodafone promises national mobile broadband for Xmas '08

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 11 December 2007 07:46

Business IT - Networking

Vodafone has announced plans to extend its HSPA 3G network well beyond the metropolitan areas by Christmas 2008.

The expanded network would allow the carrier to provide mobile broadband coverage to 95 percent of the Australian population.

"Customers want fast, reliable access to mobile internet content and emails on the go and they'll soon be able to experience a host of exciting, new content destinations. We're getting ready to deliver the world to our customers, when they want it, and in more places than ever before," said
Vodafone CEO Russell Hewitt.

"[W]e will make it happen on time," he promised.

Vodafone CTO Andy Reeves said "We'll be going flat-out with teams upgrading sites in every state and territory, simultaneously. It's a  massive project but we're very confident we can complete Vodafone's national mobile broadband network upgrade within one year."
 
The existing joint venture between Vodafone and Optus to provide 3G in major metro areas will continue, but Vodafone will go it alone in the rest of the country.

The selection of hardware and software providers should be completed early in the new year. Ericsson's success in rolling out Telstra's Next G network in ten months must stand it in good stead.

According to Vodafone officials, the upgrade will also increase coverage and capacity for standard 2G and 3G calls. Vodafone has already begun a core network upgrade to handle the additional broadband traffic.